As Inside the NBA prepares its move from TNT to ESPN next season, the show\u2019s biggest star is calling out the Worldwide Leader on the air.<\/p>\n
Prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday, Charles Barkley took issue with ESPN\u2019s coverage of the league\u2019s superstar players. In particular, the Chuckster called out the network for trying to make Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards \u201cthe face of the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey ESPN, I love you guys. Don\u2019t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA. The face of the NBA is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joker, and Giannis. You can\u2019t give it to people, they have to take it. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken it.\u201d<\/p>\n
-Charles Barkley calls out ESPN pic.twitter.com\/TAadAEHGet<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHey ESPN, I love you guys. Don\u2019t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA,\u201d Barkley said. \u201cThe face of the NBA is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joker, and Giannis. You can\u2019t give it to people, they have to take it. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken it.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time Barkley has taken aim at the network that will house his show next season. In fact, he has a long history<\/a> talking down the Disney-owned channel<\/a>. More recently, the Hall of Famer called out the \u201cclowns\u201d at ESPN<\/a> for the network\u2019s coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers. However, earlier this week, Barkley did call it \u201can honor and a privilege\u201d to appear on ESPN\u2019s airwaves.<\/p>\n Whether Barkley will be willing to continue his criticisms of ESPN next season is something to watch. He wouldn\u2019t be the first to criticize the network on its own air, Pat McAfee has done that plenty since licensing his show to the Worldwide Leader a couple of years ago. Given that McAfee is still on the air, it seems like ESPN is willing to take this collateral damage, so long as the superstar levying the criticism shines bright.<\/p>\n \t